Chapter 37: Booth Selection
- Friends at Last

Heat. Unbelievable, unforgiving heat. And expertly coupled with that heat was an extraordinary deliciousness that made you crying out for more. Despite sweating like a pig, or feeling like he had been drinking lava... Sōma had eaten the ten bowls of mapo tofu before being slapped on the back and congratulated by Kuga for being the first person to actually do so.

And so the resounding takeaways from the visiting China society had been that Kuga specialised in spicy Szechuan cuisine, and that his food was inhumanly hot yet at the same time addictively moreish.

"I hope you got everything you needed from that", Hōjō asked as they left China society and walked back along the main avenue towards their different dormitories. "Yeah, thank you so much Hōjō", Sōma replied graciously. "It was super useful to see how Kuga's people will be working, and what their cooking style is". Waving off the thanks, the purple haired girl simply looked the boy straight in the eyes. "Beat Kuga! That's all I want from you now".

"Oh yeah", the redhead boy grinned. "I plan on doing just that". Waving goodbye to Miyoko Hōjō, as they walked past her dormitory, the three first years exclaimed more thanks before carrying on down the the main avenue. It was once they reached the library, and they could clearly see the road the led out of the main campus site and towards polar star, that they saw the official sign up desk for the Moon Festival. "Oh crap! I knew there was something I forgot to do". Bolting ahead of his stunned friends, Sōma raced towards the desk to put his name into the festivals contestants.

"How can he be such a good chef but soo bad at managing his tasks", Ikumi sighed rolling her eyes. Megumi on the other hand simply giggled as they caught up to Sōma. "I think it's cute that he's forgetful. It brings him down to earth and a more relatable person, than if he was a wiz at cooking and didn't need help". Ikumi stopped walking and tuned her head to look at Megumi. "Only you could say that and make it sound romantic. It just proves how right you and Sōma are together".

"I didn't mean it in a romantic way", Megumi stammered. "I just meant that he knows his weaknesses and can ask for help or needs reminding every once in a while about important things". Grinning, understand completely what Megumi was saying, Ikumi looked back towards the redhead boy. The boy she loved but was forcing herself to love from afar out of her friendship with and respect for Megumi.

"I-I-I know you love him", Megumi uttered. "And I know it must hurt to put aside your feelings..." Almost immediately, Ikumi spun around and placed a hand over the blue haired girls mouth. "You don't need to say anything else Megumi! You and Sōma are perfect for one another, me and him just wasn't meant to be". Wrapping her arms around the 'meat general', Megumi just chuckled, as she took in the other girls blushing face. "You'll always be a dear friend to us both".

—-

Suddenly, the two girls became distracted by a loud shocked yell. "Wait... what!" Rolling their eyes both girls farted over towards Sōma who was standing before the sign up desk but next to him stood Erina and Hisako. And from the look on the boy's face, the god tongue had said something that had surprised or infuriated him. "What the hell do you mean, 'I'll have to leave Tōtsuki if I fail to sell enough'. Come on Erina... you can't just spring that little gem on me right now and then walk away".

Sensing Erina's frustration rising, both Megumi and Hisako burst forwards and stood in between their respective defenders. "What my idiot boyfriend means", Megumi shook Sōma, "is could you please explain how the Moon Festival works?" Unclenching her fists, Erina looked towards Megumi and then threw her arms around her. "Are you okay? I spoke to the stagiaire committee and they said they would file an assault charge with the local police against Kasayama".

Adding to her own previous statement Erina brought up a series of incidents that had left Kasayama's restaurant in numerous financial difficulties as well as many sponsorships falling through. "If I didn't know any better I'd almost believe that Kensuke was responsible for the near collapse of Kasayama's business".

Megumi stared in silence as she listened to Erina's speak about the negative affects befalling Kasayama, which the tenth seat was unsurely certain were caused by her brother's displeasure towards that man's behaviour.

Moreover, Hisako and Sōma blinked at the complete one eighty in Erina's mood. From angry to compassionate to concerned, the god tongue surprised them both. Not wanting to make her mad again the redhead boy walked forwards and bowed his head to the tenth seat. "Erina... I'm sorry I shouted", he began. "And I really am grateful for you for helping Megumi during your stagiaire. If you ever need anything just call and I'll be there for you".

With her face thoroughly reddened, Erina spluttered "I already said, it was my fault that Kasayama was in a bad mood..."

"But you made up for it by helping", Megumi added hugging Erina back. "I told you before that I want to be friends with you, and so does Sōma". Slowly, the god tongue looked up through her fringe and managed a small smile, which made Hisako bolt forwards crying tears of happiness.

—-

Taking a deep breath, Erina composed herself before speaking to Sōma. "I'm sorry how I've been treating you..." She was about to continue when the boy interjected. "It's okay Erina, I get it that my style of cooking clashes with how you were raised, as well as what you expect from fellow chefs. But to be honest I never took offence, every time you put me down it just seemed creased my resolve to one day make you say my food is delicious".

"You sure are open with your goals", Erina uttered. "As well as being optimistic! I mean really? Challenging Kensuke, he's the third seat..." She stopped herself upon seeing his smug grin. "Stop grinning", she stated plainly. Unfortunately, Sōma continued, "I may have lost but I also won. I took a judge, preventing Ken from gaining his first unanimous victory. And I am only the second person to do that, also I have it on good authority, Isshiki, that everyone in the Ten besides the first and second seats are really annoyed by that".

Blushing bright red, from a combination of frustration and embarrassment, Erina yelled out loud. "Shut up!" However, it was clear from the flustered expression that there was no longer any trace of disdain in her voice, she was simply learning to have fun with new friends. Chucking, Hisako moved forwards and swatted Sōma on the arm. "There, is that punishment enough Miss Erina?"

"Thank you Hisako", the god tongue smiled, before finding herself laughing joyful for the first time in years.

Looking towards the redhead boy, she decided that he needed to know what he was getting himself into, regarding the festival. "Urn hey Sōma", she stuttered. "If you're still curious I can tell you about the moon festival". Before she even knew what was happening, Sōma had moved forwards and hugged her. "Thanks Erina". Megumi and Hisako both dragged the boy away from the even redder faced god tongue.

"The Moon Festival is held over five days", Erina explained. "Those that choose to enter have to create a stall or pop up restaurant that serves as many customers as possible over those five days". Nodding his head, in rapt attention, Sōma took ahold of Megumi's hand and gave it a squeeze. "There are three sites that are available to participants", Hisako continued.

"The main avenue, which is small and houses all the food stalls. Then there's the central area, which caters to the more specific cuisines or those who require relevant equipment, it's here that the pop up restaurants are as the central area is bigger. And lastly..."

"Is the area in the mountains", Sōma finalised. "Sorry for interrupting, but Kensuke told me, Megs and Ikumi. He even gave us Pine tickets to allow us entry to see his debut moon festival".

The look of sheer surprise on both Erina and Hisako's faces as they took in the bundle of pine tickets in Sōma's hands was priceless. "Wow you should see your faces right now!" The boy laughed, joyfully, before recomposing himself. "When we go to see Ken, we'll stop by you afterwards. Okay?"

A blush spread across Erina's face as she took in that promise, so turning her head towards Hisako to rid herself of that blush she saw her faithful aid and best friend was smiling as well. "We'll set aside a table for you then", Hisako laughed, "but you better bring with you some Pine tickets! Miss Erina will appreciate you helping to boost her cooking tally".

—-

Megumi and Ikumi both laughed at the competitive tease issued by Hisako, that resulted in Sōma pouting like a child. "Oh so that's how it's gonna be miss secretary?" He replied, "then I guess I'll have to give out pine tickets to my friend who really really likes Ken. Her buying food from him will probably single handedly beat you both". He said it jokingly but upon seeing a frown grace Megumi's lips he knew that she wasn't particularly keen on that idea. So to diffuse her frown, Sōma moved forwards and swept his girlfriend off her feet, lifting her up bridal style, before peppering her face with sweet kisses.

Stunned but receptive, Megumi wrapped her arms around Sōma's neck and placed toyed with his red locks as he kissed her. "If this is your way of saying sorry", she whispered, "then you certainly know what you want!" Placing her hands either side of his face, she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

Fervently.

"Urgh...bloody hell!" Ikumi spluttered with second hand embarrassment. "Do you two really have to do that here?"

"I-I-I don't know what to say", Erina squeaked. "Although, I cannot say I'm pleased for two". Hisako bounded forwards and handed the god tongue a piece of Tōtsuki stamped paper, "it's all arranged for you Erina. You restaurant in the mountains as been approved". Nodding her head on appreciation, the long blonde haired girl smiled at, the now back to normal, Sōma and Megumi.

"You better not fail. I won't forgive if you have to leave school!" Grinning, Sōma walked past the god tongue and towards the sign up desk. "You have nothing to worry Erina. After all me, Megumi and Ikumi will beat chef Kuga in sales! We even might break even with Kensuke, if we try hard enough".

The suited man behind the sign up desk looked over the sheet of paper handed to him, and then up at the redhead boy, with stunned incredulity it his eyes. "Are you- are you sure about this?" Surely, this boy had made a mistake about where he was asking to setup his booth. The boy in question simply grinned back, there was a sense of complete resoluteness and determination on his face.

"Sure? I'm downright ecstatic. I can't wait!" The boy exclaimed but behind him, the man could four girls all looking supportive but unsure. Nodding his head, the man stamped the Tōtsuki seal down upon the paper and handed it back to the redhead.

"Very well. Sōma Yukihira, Megumi Tadokoro and Ikumi Mito you're stall, in the central area opposite Terunori Kuga, has been approved. Good luck!"